United Nations-backed talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a main rebel group, aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the strife-ridden country’s brutal armed conflict, resumed today after a week-long break.

Elements from a mainly Tutsi rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are continuing to commit abuses, beating and detaining civilians and pillaging businesses and private homes, the United Nations reported today, calling for an end to the violence.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today said it is very concerned about reports that rebels are putting pressure on those displaced by the deadly fighting in the far east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to return to their villages.

Rwandan authorities have been complicit in the recruitment of soldiers, including children, have facilitated the supply of military equipment, and have sent officers and units from the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in support of CNDP.

The Netherlands has suspended financial aid to the Rwandan government because of its alleged support for a rebel movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Dutch paper De Volkskrant reported Friday. Dutch Development Minister Bert Koenders informed the Rwandan authorities of his government's decision Thursday, saying Rwanda does not deserve budget support now because there is "strong evidence" that the country is supporting rebels in the DR Congo.

A United Nations panel of experts has once again accused Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and his government of supporting warlord Laurent Nkunda in his years-long killing spree in eastern Congo. A report presented to the Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council on Friday says that Rwandan authorities "have been complicit in the recruitment of soldiers, including children, have facilitated the supply of military equipment and have sent officers and units" from the Rwandan army to help warlord Laurent Nkunda.

It's still unknown why the shooting erupted in Kibati, but one person has been arrested. Armed men are frequent intruders at the camp and Nthengwe says it's very difficult to keep them out. He says, "The main problem is that Kibati camp is in the middle of the front line between the FRDC (national army) and the CNDP rebel group… What we have done in many cases is to speak to…MONUC (UN peacekeeping force) to try and send a message to the CNDP and to send a message to FRDC authorities that they should keep their armed people off the civilian site."

The Talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and a main rebel group are making steady progress but have been adjourned until next week, mediators said on Friday.
The Nairobi peace talks which began earlier this week will adjourn until Dec. 17, Olusegun Obasanjo, the UN Special Envoy and former Nigerian president said in a statement.

On November 4-5, 2008, an estimated 150 people were killed
in the town of Kiwanja in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, half a mile
away from United Nations peacekeeping forces. The event marks one of the worst
killing sprees in North Kivu in the past two years. Most of those killed were
summarily executed by forces of rebel commander Laurent Nkunda's National
Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP).

Talks aimed at restoring peace in the war-ravaged eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday with mediators calling on both sides to lay down their arms for the sake of stability in the Great Lakes Region. Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula urged the warring parties to put aside their differences and pursue the path of peace.